Meetings

IWPS usually meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, from February through to November at 7.30pm at Malvern Hill Uniting Church Hall (corner of Malvern Avenue and Murray Streets, Croydon), which is approx 300m from Croydon Train Station.

The first meeting of the month is normally where guest lecturers present on a particular field of photography such as computer skills, monochrome imagery, sports photography, photojournalism, etc.

The second meeting of the month is normally a competition or critique night in which all members are encouraged to participate. Full details of all our activities are in the Schedule.

• Presentation – An invited photographer hosts a presentation on a specific topic(s). Topics vary and can include anything related to photography including photographic genres, techniques, professional practice, computer skills, printing, etc.
• Competition – Members can submit up to 4 digital images and 6 printed images to each competition night. Competitions are judged by photographers from outside the club who have attended a NSW Federation of Camera Clubs Judging Course. Judges review and provide commentary on each image and give awards (worth points – see past winners here). The member with the highest number of award points over the year wins the print or digital ‘Competition’.  Click here for competition information and rules.
• Critique – An opportunity for members to present images outside of a competition setting. The member chooses the purpose of presenting (e.g. review, critique, interest, information, etc).
• Photo 101 – Members can request help or information on any photographic topic including basic and intermediate theory, camera settings and operation, computer processing, etc. Requests need be made in advance of the meeting. If of interest to a number of members this will be addressed in the main hall, otherwise separate instruction may be provided in a side room.
• Workshop – An evening meeting in the church hall where members are invited to bring their camera gear and take photos while we explore a photographic technique, topic or subject.
• Top Shot (annual) – An invited judge selects their favourite print and digital image from the year. All images that received a Merit or a Member’s Choice Award from a Competition night are automatically entered. All members who did not received a Merit or a Member’s Choice Award that year are able to submit a single image to each category that they had entered to a competition that year. These images can be modified by the author prior to submission. See past winners here.

Other Activities

While the club activities are mainly focused on the meetings and competitions, it also undertakes a number of other activities during the year. These activities vary from year to year but always provide opportunities to explore different aspects of photography. Examples of these other activities include:

• Club outings to places of photographic interest – A photographic opportunity outside of the club nights to take photos. Location and times are organised by the Club but each member is free to arrive, take images and leave as they wish. Members are welcome to seek advice and/or buddy up for the event and usually we get together for a coffee, food and a chat afterwards.
• 90 minute challenge – An outing where members are given 90min to take and post images to a folder in the Cluster App. Images must be taken within the challenge window, can be of any subject and can be altered in any way (within the 90mins). Members gather after the end of challenge to vote for their favourite and for food/coffee.
• Competition Member’s Choice Award – During competition nights members are invited to select their favourite 3 print images and 3 favourite digital images. The digital and print image with the highest number of votes each receive a Members Choice Award (worth competition points). Competition Member’s Choice Award images from competition nights are automatically eligible for Top Shot.
• Portfolio activities, where the focus is on developing a body of work – Organised on non-Club night Wednesdays, the Portfolio Group are for members who want to complete a photographic project or portfolio of images over the club year. Six Portfolio meetings are held based on identifying, developing, executing and refining an idea. Sessions are highly interactive with significant time given to each member to present their work and receive feedback and ideas from other members. More information…
• A weekend away – The club may organise a weekend away to a photographic location. Members are encouraged to arrive Friday afternoon and numerous photographic opportunities are organised through to Sunday lunchtime. This is a participating member funded event, with the club organising the accommodation and photographic locations. At this stage this event will not be held in 2022 due to the uncertainty associated with the COVID-19 pandemic
• Photographic exhibition – The club may organise a weekend away to a photographic location.  Members are encouraged to arrive Friday afternoon and numerous photographic opportunities are organised through to Sunday lunchtime. This is a participating member funded event, with the club organising the accommodation and photographic locations. At this stage this event will not be held in 2022 due to the uncertainty associated with the COVID-19 pandemic
• A Members Gallery where each member is able to display their images

For a full program of activities please go to the events page.

Join Us

The best way to make a decision about joining is to come along for a couple of our meetings at Malvern Hill Uniting Church Hall and see if our club will suit you. Visitors are welcome at every meeting though only members can enter competitions and participate in other activities.

Check the Schedule to confirm meeting dates as there are occasional exceptions.

The IWPS membership fee is $65 per year to cover the cost of lecturers and judges, there is also a small gold coin donation for each night you attend to help cover the cost of venue hire.

Application forms are available at a meeting or by sending an email to the Secretary.

If you have any questions, please Contact Us.

Club History

Anyone interested in the history of the Inner West Photographic Society can read more about it here.